January 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

martaindale

Sorry - accidental double post when I tried to add in pics.

martaindale

13.4/90 miles

1/1: 13.4 miles

RACE REPORT!!
I ran the half in the Texas Marathon this morning. My last HM was about a year ago (2:18ish) so I set my goal for 2:10 this year. This race is a small neighborhood race that is also a BQ race. I think they ended up with about 500 total runners.
It was chilly this morning, about 40F at race start. They did a rolling start of groups of 10-15 starting with the marathoners and calling out paces to sort of keep people in a rough corral order. The course is run on sidewalks through a neighborhood and most of them are wide enough for 3-4 people walking abreast. Honestly, they should keep the rolling start. I can't imaging starting a race on a sidewalk with that many people and how long it would take for it to shake out. Both the male and female course records were broken by several minutes today. Gotta wonder if the start had anything to do with that.
So, anyway, race is underway. Got out a little fast but not too crazy. I think my pace was mostly driven by the temps at that point. After a few miles I was still feeling pretty good and realized I had no clue what my actual pace was. Everytime I looked at my watch the pace it was showing was way slower than I knew I was running but the lap times seemed pretty accurate. So, I got a hint each mile or so but mostly ended up running by feel.
The course was 2 loops for the HM. At the halfway turnaround, I peeled off for a bathroom break and when I came back I was roughly on pace for my goal, but the course was definitely a little long. Math while running is hard enough without having to factor in extra distance.
The second loop I was still feeling pretty good, keeping up with my fueling and drinking enough to stay hydrated without being able to feel it sloshing in my stomach. It took a mile or 2 to re-pass people that made the turnaround during my bathroom break then I was pretty alone for a bit. I realized my goal was doable but I needed to turn it on a little. I would pick someone ahead of me and slowly work to pass them. I ran some quick miles in the last bit of the race. Then around mile 12 the fatigue started kicking in. There was this guy behind me that I could hear and I made it my goal to stay ahead of him. It worked and kept me pushing.
No official time yet, but my Garmin has 2:11:08 for a 13.4 mile race and 2:08:21 for my new HM PR!! Super happy with that.
For the next one (6 weeks or so from now), I need better pacing. My HM in 2020 had negative splits. This year I was kind of all over the place. Part of this was due to the style of the race, some was because my watch was having GPS issues in the woods, but mostly I just don't have a great sense for what a given pace feels like on my legs.

Pictures of my TEXAS sized medal and the themed animal squeezy toy for this year. 2021 is the year of the squeezy shark. They do this every year.

skippygirlsmom

1/1 – 6 miles

6 (6.02) of 135 miles


Can someone explain the ChallengeHound website to me. I want to login on my laptop, but I can’t use my gmail account on my laptop so I try to login and it sends me an email that takes me to a link, so I have to open my gmail on my phone and open the app. Why if I’m logging in on the computer can’t I just see stuff there?

@amandalyn333 my daughter has asthma, when the weather is really cold she will wear a bluff over her mouth on and off during the run. She used to be bothered by it more like 5 years ago but not so much any more. As far as clothes, like @martaindale said dress for like 10 degrees warmer, if I’m not chilly when I start my run I have too many clothes on. Today I made the mistake of a long sleeve and shorts and by 2 miles in I took off my shirt and ran in my sports bra, I apologize to all who saw me LOL

@TheMrWobbly you can add me in Huntsville, Alabama

Great 2020 @polskagirl01

Hi @libbyralls great goal!

Hi @kirstymn ouch! Glad a police station was nearby. I fell a few years back and broke 4 ribs, so when I trip on something I scream. It makes for great fun when you trail racing with people around you. Ha ha I never follow those types of challenges it takes the fun out of it. In 2020 I did other virtual type challenges I thought would be fun, taking 2 months to run to the space station, how many miles can I run in 10 weeks etc.

@Avidkeo great photos

@KristinScott8 welcome!

Hugs @ContraryMaryMary hope Dad makes a full recovery.

@Faebert if you run one mile this month you gave COVID a kick in the *kitten*!

@quilteryoyo how are you and mom doing?

Great distance PR @SummerSkier


Races:

1/4/2021 – 10 weeks as many miles as you can – Abominable Snowman Challenge
2021 – one HM a month

martaindale

skippygirlsmom wrote: »

Can someone explain the ChallengeHound website to me. I want to login on my laptop, but I can’t use my gmail account on my laptop so I try to login and it sends me an email that takes me to a link, so I have to open my gmail on my phone and open the app. Why if I’m logging in on the computer can’t I just see stuff there?

Yeah, challenge hound is interesting. I also can't use my personal email on my computer (work blocks it) so I had to open it on my phone. Once I had a tab logged in on the browser on my phone, I'm just not logging it out. So far I have been able to go back in a few times without having to log in again. I wish I could use it on my computer but it requires you to log in through the link which I can't get to. So, phone it is.

skippygirlsmom

@martaindale thanks glad it’s not just me.

Teresa502

martaindale wrote: »

Yeah, challenge hound is interesting. I also can't use my personal email on my computer (work blocks it) so I had to open it on my phone. Once I had a tab logged in on the browser on my phone, I'm just not logging it out. So far I have been able to go back in a few times without having to log in again. I wish I could use it on my computer but it requires you to log in through the link which I can't get to. So, phone it is.

I can't access my personal email on my work computer either but I can forward an email in my personal email account on my phone to my work email and open it that way and then log in to Challenge Hound.

Teresa502

January Goal – 100 miles
1/1 – 3.1 (New Year’s Wake Up and Run 5k)

Welcome to all the new posters!

Thanks for getting us going @martaindale and congratulations on your half marathon PR! Even with a bathroom stop you managed to PR! Incredible! That is one honking big medal!

@TheMrWobbly – I joined the Run the World Challenge. Looking forward to seeing us all progress together.

Glad your dad’s surgery went well @ContraryMaryMary. I hope he heals quickly.

Today was our track club’s annual New Year’s Wake Up and Run 5k race. I woke to the sound of rain but thankfully it stopped for the race. There were 88 runners who participated this year compared to 135 last year. If you pre-register, the cost is only $5 and that includes a long-sleeve shirt. The race is held at a local state park. The temperature was right around 50F. I wore a tank top and a long sleeve shirt. My original plan was to remove the long-sleeve shirt and wear the tank with a rain jacket but since it quit raining, I went with plan b and it was still too many layers. One shirt would have been plenty. I walked/trotted about 3/4ths of a mile as a gentle warm-up. The race has one large hill and I made it up without having to walk any – this hasn’t always been the case when I’ve run this route before. My time was 32:24 (average pace of 10:26). I was first in my age group (even though there were only two of us in my age group)! 66 out of 88 overall. My only complaint about the course is the duck poo. Part of the last mile runs alongside the lake where the ducks like to hang out. There is a nice paved walking/running path but it seemed especially gross today. I changed shoes before I even got in my car and turned the water hose on them when I got home. Normally a lot of us (about 40-50) gather at someone’s house after this race and everyone brings something for brunch and we all talk about our upcoming races and goals for the year. However, no awards ceremony after the race and no brunch either. Hoping and praying those things can change soon.

samthepanda

Haven’t been in the monthly challenges for a year due to physical and mental health issues and then just got out of the habit. I signed up for Jog on 2020 and aimed to do 30 miles within 12 days. I aimed to do 2-3 miles a day in the hope this would get me back into a habit of running regularly, and this has worked in that I have now run for the last 7 days, which I have never done before. I now have 4 miles to go for this challenge, but will find it much harder to get out as often when back to work (and hopefully kids in school). However I will aim for 40 miles, and doing some CrossFit training.

3greyhorses

Newbie here!
I'm slow and do low-miles, but I am a consistent runner. I try to run every day, at least 1 mile. Lately, I've been focusing more on the time of my runs, not pace or distance (mostly b/c I can't find my Garmin ).
My running goal for this month is to run 50 miles.
My other goals are to ride each of my 3 horses at least 4x/week, continue the squat/pushup/plank/crunch challenge I've been doing, track calories and stay under budget.
I've lost 10lbs in the past 7ish weeks and would like to lose 25 more by May 1st.
Looking forward to getting to know you all

Scott6255

Congrats on your HM PR! That is a great way to start 2021!!! And you gotta love the Texas medal. We do it big here!!
Glad your dad is recovering well @ContraryMaryMary. That is a scary way to start the year.

I think I have decided on a few 2021 goals:

• Stay injury free
• Run 2021 KMs
• PR in at least 1 distance (1 mi, 5K, 10K, HM, or full)
• Try to get to 4 days a week running consistently

Friday is not a 'normal' run day, but HAD to do it since it is Jan. 1. Cold and rainy out, so opted for 5 miles on the treadmill.

TheMrWobbly

Great PB @martaindale Lots of great runs today. I started with a 10k after such little endeavour in Q4 though it hasn't linked the strava run to challenge hound for some reason. I will give it 24 hours.

I had to submit the map earlier @skippygirlsmom though I have sent an update to see if Huntsville can be added

Teresa502

TheMrWobbly wrote: »

Great PB @martaindale Lots of great runs today. I started with a 10k after such little endeavour in Q4 though it hasn't linked the strava run to challenge hound for some reason. I will give it 24 hours.

I had to submit the map earlier @skippygirlsmom though I have sent an update to see if Huntsville can be added

My run isn't showing in challenge hound either even though my Strava app is shown as being connected.

HonuNui

January Goal: Hike the "A's" *

1/1/21: 3.39

Total: 3.39

@ContraryMaryMary I'm glad your dad had his event in the presence of someone else, allowing for such a quick response. Wishing him the best.



*

So, my New Years resolution is to hike all 193 (or 195 depending on your source) countries of the world. This will be difficult, since I don’t have a passport. But YouTube to the rescue! I have been using the site to take train “trips” recently, and have found them strangely motivating. Why not the world? So, today I began my treadmill trip by visiting Kabul, Afghanistan, followed by a strenuous (virtually, that is….) trek through Northern Albania, with occasional glances away from the ‘puter screen to scan the sea for any whales passing by (nope).

ContraryMaryMary

I've finally gone back and looked at my goals for 2020:

• Run a half in 1:45 (I'm looking at you, dead flat Waterfront Half on April 5th) Achieved, but the official Waterfront Half was delayed and virtual - I managed 1:45:29 in September, then 1:45:04 in November
• Run my first ever full marathon (entered We Run the Forest trail event, August 1st) Delayed until 2021
• Run a local Park Run at least once a month Didn't do a single one
• Work on my handstands so I can hold one for five seconds without needing the security of a wall behind me Nope
• Run 2020km for the year Yes, managed 2444.4km in the end
• Lose that sneaky 2kg that has crept on over the past year or so Yes, but another 1kg arrived in December with Santa

So, my goals for 2021:

• Run a comfortably sub-1:45 half marathon, dare I say 1:42? (Once again, the Waterfront Half in April will be the place to do this)
• Run my first ever full marathon at the We Run the Forest event
• Run a 1:45 at the Auckland half (it's hilly)
• Do at least 10 minutes yoga every day

If I write it down it happens, right?

skippygirlsmom

@TheMrWobbly it’s no problem if they can’t add Alabama. Thanks for trying.

I was able to get strava to link my challenge miles. Hopefully yours will show up.

AlphaHowls

200 miles minimum goal for January 2021

1/1 26.29 miles, 977 Days on the run, 159 days HM+ streak
Wow! The wind was a bully for this one. Gusts up to 40 mph and almost 70°F.
Thank the Lord for compression hose!

@TheMrWobbly
I am signed up for the challenge.

katharmonic

I'm sorry I already got way behind on posts but I read and liked a lot! Great to see new people join and friends return!

@ContraryMaryMary what a scary start to the year. Glad your dad is ok. Hugs!

@kirstymn welcome back and so much ouch on the fall and the teeth, hugs for your traumatic experiences. Glad you are running again.

@martaindale congrats on the HM PR!!! Amazing job! That medal is truly magnificent. I agree that the rolling/staggered start is a change that needs to be permanent.

@Teresa502 congrats on your 5k and age group win. A win is a win!

To all the rest, great goals, welcome, let's have a good 2021!

---

I started the year by not running!

Instead, I went on a New Year's Day hike. This one was a shorter hike, not one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks but in the same area. It was a fun one and a nice way to start the year without being quite so exhausting and time consuming. We hiked Catamount Mountain and it took about 4 hours total for the round trip. The views were amazing and it was a mostly sunny day with very little wind. There were some fun rock scrambles to climb, including one called "The Chimney" which is a narrow gap you have to climb up between rock faces. It felt like I might need to take my pack off to get through but we managed. Conditions were pretty good. There is not a ton of snow yet and the ice was manageable while wearing spikes. I've actually done this mountain before but it was two years ago on a very hot summer day, and I was a complete and unprepared novice. I may not even have made it to the true summit that day. It felt like a completely new hike today and I was glad we did it. A perfect hike to start the year.

And I was so excited NOT to have to run during the hike or, especially, after I got home. Because we arrived home to the start of a mix of snow and freezing rain. It was a slippery driving home from where I had left my car and I just kept thinking thank god it's a rest day! I feel a mild twinge of maybe I should have kept it going, but that is very much outweighed by relief that I don't have to.

Obligatory pictures under spoiler. The second to last one is climbing up the chimney (I'm on the top of it)

Edited to add: I will be back with some goals tomorrow. I already failed one personal "self-care" kind of goal, lol. Note to self, don't set goals to NOT do something that you know you're going to go ahead and do at the first opportunity.

quilteryoyo

@Tramboman Love the goal of "PUT THE FUN BACK IN THE RUN."

@TheMrWobbly Love your "targets." What are you going to get your Master's in?

Nice run @SummerSkier ! Congrats on the distance PR! I think that is a great pace for that distance.

@Avidkeo Glad you enjoyed your wet run! You look amazing.

Big CONGRATULATIONS @martaindale on your HM PR! That's awesome! Love your race report and pictures too. That is definitely a Texas sized medal!

@skippygirlsmom Thanks for asking. We are doing okay, better than expected. I don't do well with New Year's Day since my husband passed 14 years ago - just hard facing another year without him. And now, with dad, the start of the day was a little emotional, but we unexpectedly wound up spending most of the day with the rest of the family (nephew and niece's families and my brother and SIL). It was a good distraction to have the two toddlers to play with and enjoy.

@Teresa502 Great race. Congrats on winning your age group! Who cares if there were only 2 running - you also beat all of those who were sitting at home on the couch! The duck poo sounds pretty gross. I'm also hoping things will get back to some form of normal soon.

@samthepanda Welcome back. Sounds like you are doing great getting back into running! Juggling work and running can be difficult. Good luck finding the balance you need and try not to stress about days you had planned to run, but life gets in the way. It happens to all of us.

Welcome @3greyhorses . Those are admirable goals.

@HonuNui Love your New Year's Resolution. Do you have a treadmill that will follow the terrain, or are you just watching video tours of the countries as you run? That sounds like fun.

@ContraryMaryMary Fantastic distance ran in 2020. All those other goals were pretty much out of your control.

quilteryoyo

I got a phone call from my cousin's Assisted Living facility this evening. They tested him for CoVID on Dec 30th and it came back positive. He was nauseous and had diarrhea today. I did talk to him after I found out and he said he was feeling better. I sure hope those are his only symptoms and he gets better soon. He has COPD, so if it goes to his lungs, the odds aren't good. Since my surgery is next week - yes, just a week away - I did talk to him about potential decisions that would have to be made about the level of care if he were to have to go to the hospital and things went south. We decided on the same thing that we did my dad - everything up to, but no ventilator. I wasn't expecting to have to have that discussion with someone again so soon.

kgirlhart

January Goal: 90 Miles

1/1: 6.26 miles

6.26/90 running miles completed for January

It snowed last night! So this morning I ran 6.26 miles in the snow. It wasn't still snowing, but there was lots of pretty snow on the ground.  I saw a couple of kids making a snowman with their dad and they seemed happy when I complimented them on it. Since it is a holiday I didn't get up early so it wasn't dark when I ran. It was pretty cold for me at 35°F feels like 25°F and 16 mph NW winds. I wore a long sleeve shirt and a jacket.  Most of the run I was dressed well. I was glad for the zipper on the jacket since I kept moving it up and down depending on if I was running into the wind or not. But by the end if the run I felt a little over dressed and took off my gloves and jacket and had to tie the jacket around my waist.  For the most part though I was dressed ok and the only problem was all the melting snow made lots of puddles and my feet were wet for most of the run.

Goals for 2021:

1. Run the year in kilometers.

2. Run/Walk/Step the year in miles.

3. Stay injury free. Be willing to run less mileage if I need to in order to prevent over training injuries.

4. Run at least 1 Half Marathon Race.

5. Run a 10K Race.

6. Do yoga 5-6 times per week.

7. Be more patient with myself and others.

8. Don't let stress overwhelm me.

9. Keep my weight at least at 113 pounds.






2021 Races: I need to sign up for some races! 😁